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LELEA.

HOUSE was rented of Lelea, a native woman. She was then a splendid type of her race, tall, well-formed, strong, with a quantity of glossy black hair, eyes brilliant, and clear brown skin. She was a woman of more than ordinary intellect, far-seeing, shrewd, honest and straightforward in all her dealings. I was led to think, the more I saw of her, that she had the blood of all the Kamehamehas in her veins! Her manners and bearing would not have shamed a duchess.

When I knew her (she is now dead) she was very sad and anxious, and would often talk to me of her troubles. She would come into my place at nightfall, and seeing me alone on the veranda, would not be induced to have a chair, but crouching, Indian fashion, would stay for an hour or more, sometimes talkative, more often not a word; moody and dark, seeming at such times to me more like an Indian than a Hawaiian. A broken heart was fast killing my handsome Lelea. Her first husband was a white man-termed at the Islands "foreigners "-who left her at his death quite a fine property, but who was wise enough to tie it up in such a manner that it

could be for her use during her lifetime, but at her death must revert to his relatives at home. A second husband had, of course, come on the scene-a full native, like herself, but much younger. When Brown found he could not get hold of any of her wealth, he became very dissipated and abusive to "my lady," and succeeded, I am sorry to say, in making her very wretched.

However, she proved a very faithful and kind landlady. She promised that the large paddock should be kept tidy and clean, and as there were many fine trees, and the leaves were continually falling more or less, it involved a good deal of work. One day of every week, at least, must be given to the sweeping of the grass; and when she had this done, the whole place was like a smooth velvet carpet of richest, softest green! A bonfire was then made, and the trash burned up. Not a dead leaf could be found on that place when she had done!

As I have said, the natives never like to go indoors on moonlight nights. I would awaken to some noise in the grounds, and looking through the shutters of my blind doors, would see my earnest and faithful Lelea sweeping and gathering up the leaves by the light of a late moon. Like too many white people, trouble had seemed to summon to her side the demon Restlessness, for she never could be still. She had lost forever the repose and indolence of her race! I pitied her. She manifested (why I failed to comprehend) great affection for her recreant, lazy lord!

Often I would find a bundle of oranges or a choice fish left on my veranda, to show her aloha for me.

There is an old legend that, when the Mosque of St. Sophia was finished, the founder caused his name to be inscribed in illuminated letters around the dome. On going there in the morning he saw that his name was erased, and in its place, the name of a woman. He ordered the city to be searched, and when she was brought into his presence he found that she was a poor widow. He asked her what she had ever done that her name should be placed there, and his, the founder, be lost to sight? She said, "she was sure she could not recollect aught she had ever done, except to give a little straw to the oxen who hauled. the stone." "She hath done what she could."

MY POOR, TRUE, NOBLE-HEARTED LELEA!

IN

PONTO, THE VAGABOND.

N this large enclosure were to be seen mango, tamarind, kukui, bamboo, bread-fruit, Pride of India, royal palm, and the traveler's, together with many others; not omitting to mention by itself, the wonderful and much-loved, and deservedly-loved, cocoanut tree; which, by some unhappy mischance, I could but think, was growing far away from any beach or shore —miles inland, in this place of mine.

The cocoanut is a child of the sea, and never looks comfortable and happy but where it can see the face of its friend!

In the middle of these grounds was a circular mound of that exquisite green, such as is seen nowhere but in tropical climates. In the middle of this mound a deep pond, stone-lined and curbed; and a fountain, where the water was plentiful, and ever cool and fresh! Above the first basin was a smaller one, which overflowed, when the fountain was playing, into the larger one beneath. A crowd of doves frequented this pond for their daily ablutions. I wish I knew that all little boys were so happy in having their faces washed, and taking their bath, as were these lovely feathered children! I could not discover that there was actually

any quarreling among them; but, in watching them closely, I seemed to see some selfishness. When they came at nightfall, after an unusually warm day, I noticed that, in their eagerness, the big ones took the lead, and pushed the little ones off the edge of the basin! I would set the fountain gently running-not to scare them off-and they would fly in little groups, onto the upper basin, where the water would fall on them. There they would walk and prance about, round and round, picking and shaking, and cooing, and washing, until each feather was in full-dress and party order! They were of all sizes and colors. Never have I seen

such exquisite white ones anywhere, not even in Venice. Oh, they were beauties!

But it was not for the doves I cared the mosthappy, jolly, rollicking dears that they were; and much as I loved them, and welcome as they were to share the coolness, and the water of the pond and the fountain; and glad as I was when they came, and sorry as I felt when their daily bath was over! No, it was not for them my sympathy went out, nor in them that my interest specially centered. They were well fed, and housed, and cared for, and owned! Could I not see their neat little cotes, far over the way, among the cool, shady trees in a flower garden! Ah, yes! they had many friends, and lovers, and companions, for were they not choice birds at that—many of rare and expensive breeds-tumblers, and crowns, and crests, etc. No, no! They were not the only living things that wandered into my premises, for